Senior Citizens Celebrate National Year Of Reading
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Customers, volunteers and library service staff outside Upper Belvedere
Rendezvous with the book Private Peaceful, their book reviews and copies
of newspapers from the day they were born. |
Regulars at the Upper Belvedere Pop-In-Parlour (or Rendezvous as it is now
called) in Woolwich Road, Belvedere, have been taking part in an initiative
organised by Bexley Library Service, to celebrate the National Year of Reading.
The group agreed to read Michael Morpurgo's award winning book, 'Private
Peaceful' and then write a review. It had been chosen by students from Townley
Grammar School in Bexleyheath as being the best book for people between eight
to 80 to read. It highlights the plight of a young man fighting in the First
World War in appalling physical and psychological conditions.
Many of the people who took part in the book review had relatives who fought
in the First World War and they spoke of how these people were so traumatised,
they rarely spoke about the war. Yet what little they did say, was affirmed
in the book.
One reader, Mrs Iris Vine, aged 83, said: "Every person over 14 years
old should read this book to see how lucky they really are."
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Rendezvous customer Mrs Iris Vine (left) and Anne Eastaugh
(right) from Bexley Library Service chatting about Private Peaceful |
"I have really enjoyed the library staff visiting us. I know the library
is only next door, but having people come in and recommend books makes for
a good talking point and sharing of opinions. I have always been a keen reader,
but I know not everyone is, so the more encouragement people get, the better
it is."
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Arts and Tourism, Cllr
Peter Catterall said: "It's
important that we engage with all of our residents and so I'm delighted that
the Upper Belvedere Rendezvous group agreed to host visits from the library
service. It would be lovely if others followed suit and we could promote
this throughout the whole borough."
As a 'thank you' for taking part in the initiative, Amanda Wilson-Dixon
and Anne Eastaugh, members of Bexley's National Year of Reading project group,
presented each person with a copy of The Times newspaper from the day of
their birth. Anyone can view old copies of The Times by visiting the Local
Studies and Archives Centre, at the Central Library, Townley Road Bexleyheath.
